Wrapping Cloth (Bojagi)

Currently not on view

Wrapping Cloth (Bojagi)

Early 20th century

Artist/maker unknown, Korean

Perhaps the most extraordinary craft produced by Korean women of the Joseon dynasty was the bojagi, a cloth used for a variety of purposes ranging from covering food to wrapping important documents. This particular piece would have been placed over a meal arranged on a dining table. In the Joseon culture of restraint and austerity, women were taught to be frugal; bojagi were frequently constructed from small scraps of fabric leftover from other projects, making their creation an exercise in design. Evoking an air of modernism, some bojagi have been compared to the work of twentieth-century artists Paul Klee (Swiss, 1879–1940) and Piet Mondrian (Dutch, 1872–1944).

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Wrapping Cloth (Bojagi)

Date:

Early 20th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Korean

Medium:

Patchwork of plain woven multicolored silk plain weave

Dimensions:

24 1/4 x 24 inches (61.6 x 61 cm)

Classification:

Textiles

Credit Line:

Gift of an anonymous donor, 2002

Accession Number:

2002-215-1

Geography:

Made in Korea, Asia

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.

Currently not on view